Spring Cleaning: City mobilizes to clean 2,000 miles of residential streets

Spring Cleaning: City mobilizes fleet of street sweepers to start cleaning 2,000 miles of residential streets

· City begins first of three citywide sweeps, each will take 10 weeks to complete

· Reminder notices to remove vehicles from the street notices will be posted on streets two days in advance of sweeping

· Mayor re-instituted street sweeping program last year after a 7-year absence

Warm weather has arrived and Spring Cleaning has begun in earnest in Detroit as crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW) hit the streets today with its annual residential street sweeping program. Beginning on Detroit’s Northeast side, the city’s fleet of sweepers will clear 2000 miles of side streets three times this year.

Mayor Mike Duggan re-instituted the program last year, sending street sweepers into neighborhoods for the first time in seven years after it was discontinued in 2010 due to city budget cuts.

This 10-week citywide sweeping cycles will run until November, with crews clearing nearly 330 blocks per day. In order to do this effectively, the city will post signs in each neighborhood in advance of the sweepers’ arrival asking residents to remove parked vehicles from the street on the day sweeping is scheduled to take place. This will allow safe passage of the sweeper and maximum cleaning of the streets.

“We expect the program to run much more efficiently this year, because residents are now used to it and our drivers have more experience,” said Doug Collins, Superintendent of DPW’s Solid Waste Division. “Our residents deserve and appreciate this service and our crews take great pride in doing their part to enhance city neighborhoods.”

No parking signs will be posted 48 hours in advance letting residents know when their blocks and neighborhoods will be swept. A map containing the citywide street sweeping schedule is available at http://www.detroitmi.gov/PublicWorks. If residents have questions or need to report any concerns regarding the program, they should call 313 224-3901.